Writers get a bad rap for being the only creative professionals to have their own unique illness. I’m referring to the “writer’s block”.

Let me clarify something real quick:

There’s no such thing as writer’s block.

Writing is just like any other art form.

The more you practice doing it, the better you get at it. The less you do it, the harder it is to do it.

If you write often you will get stuck less and less.

Animator’s block?!

I’m a professional animator. When I was working on my latest short film Tasteful, I remember getting up every day and going to my office to keep animating.

It was hard. Sometimes I didn’t know where to even start. I often wanted to just take a day off and not do any work. Who would have stopped me?

Could I have simply proclaimed to have Animator’s Block?

Doesn’t really sound right, does it?

When we look at ourselves as “artists” we feel like we get a special break from work, because making art is mentally draining. What if instead of looking ourselves as “artists” or “creatives” we simply look at ourselves as “professionals”?

Professionals go and do their work every day. They don’t use excuses like “painting block” “music block” or “programming block”.

No. They get to the task and overcome the feeling we all have that is trying to make us stop working for the day.

Did you ever try pushing past the block?

I have found that if I REALLY want to, I am able to overcome my creative block and go back to the flow. I learned that when I don’t know what to write about for my blog, or what video to make for YouTube, I will eventually come up with something if I sit long enough and focus.

That knowledge is comforting. Knowing that I’m not really blocked, I just need to wait it out. It’s comforting, but it also puts all the responsibility on the artist.

It takes a lot of willpower. Some days more than others.

So if you are a creative professional, please, don’t give yourself a special break and say “Oh! I have X block! Nothing I can do about it”.

Instead, try taking a break, have some coffee and go back to work. The block will go away, if you don’t give up too soon.